Participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) is increasingly applied for improving workplace conditions in both developing and developed counties. The participatory programmers using PAOT methodology have proven effective for reducing work-related risks in various small enterprises, construction sites, home workplaces and agriculture.
PAOT enables participants to learn good examples and propose practical improvements at work through group work. The PAOT programs can thus train many local people to take voluntary improvement actions. To facilitate the voluntary action of local people, the emphasis of training is placed on group discussion about immediate changes that are easy to propose and implement in local conditions.
PAOT programs have been conducted initially in Asia and subsequently in other regions. Successful programs are reported from a number of countries in Asia, Central Asia, East Europe, Africa and Latin America. Many of these programs have been organized in cooperation with the ILO and development-aid agencies, and many other programs are spreading by the voluntary initiatives of many safety and grassroots groups.
Examples include: －WISE (Work Improvement in Small Enterprises) courses for small and medium-sized enterprise; －WIND (Work Improvement in Neighborhood Development) workshops for farmers; －WISH (Work Improvement for Safe Home) workshops for home workers; －WISCON (Work Improvement in Small Construction Sites) workshops; －POSITIVE (Participation-oriented Safety Improvement by Trade-union Initiative) programs in Asian counties; －WARM (Work Adjustment for Recycling and Managing Waste) training for waste collectors; －Green Program for community-level action for protecting environment. All these programs make use of participatory shot-term training to learn basic improvements and plan and implement locally feasible options.
All these programs make use of participatory shot-term training to learn basic improvements and plan and implement locally feasible options.
The participants of each of these programs are trained in practical ways of proposing low-cost solutions in multiple technical areas. They can thus act as trainers using the same training materials. In particular, an action checklist designed for finding locally feasible improvements is used for this purpose in all the programs. In this way, PAOT methodology has a good reason why PAOT has spread to so many sectors in a number of countries.
All these programs make use of participatory shot-term training to learn basic improvements and plan and implement locally feasible options.
The participants of each of these programs are trained in practical ways of proposing low-cost solutions in multiple technical areas. They can thus act as trainers using the same training materials. In particular, an action checklist designed for finding locally feasible improvements is used for this purpose in all the programs. In this way, PAOT methodology has a good reason why PAOT has spread to so many sectors in a number of countries.